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Note: Bouncers can ruin your night before it has even started and steal the thunder of a great night. FACT.

Hello,

My name is Sean Adams, you may remember me as the guy who founded Drowned in Sound and released Jeniferever's album. You may have been aware that they played the Underworld in Camden tonight. It was very good thank you.

However, you may also have been there a few moments after the show finished and you may also have been grabbed by the bouncers, despite the fact you were just finishing a conversation.

You may also have been perplexed as to why, despite the fact 4 polite tiny swedish people with passes were saying "he's with us, he's our label, we're just saying goodbye, it'll just be a minute". You may also have heard me saying "just one minute please", that's all. However you will also have seen the bouncer grab me (and subsequently several others) by the arm three times and push me toward the door.

Why was this? Was it because the venue was massively over curfew? No. It was only 10:30 and the curfew was 11pm. Was it because I was the last person there that they were waiting to leave? No. There were still at least 20 people trying to buy merch which helps fund the bands tour. Was it because I was drunk, rude and obnoixious? No. I was sober (who can afford drinks in there anyways?), as polite as ever and simply asked for 1 minute. Bare in mind this was 5 minutes after the headline act had left the stage and followed a mere 20 second "drink up and get out" warning that you have to leave the venue.

This would be fine if it was an isolated incident but it's at least the third time in a month I've had needless shit from bouncers and I'm hardly some rude cunge. I really don't understand the levels of agro from bouncers we're meant to accept and just let wash over us. In any other circumstance grabbing someone by the arm, shouting, not listening to anything that is being said and pushing them toward the door would not be tolerated. In some circumstances this would vaguely be threatening behaviour, especially as the guy said "would you like me to use more force?"

There is no-one to complain to about bouncers. Or is there? They have no central 'body' but you would have thought the owners of venues would care if the people who pay Â£10 a ticket and premium drinks prices (Â£3.20 for a jd+coke?) who pay these peoples wages may wish to simply finish a conversation and a few moments after being asked. Is that too much to ask? HOW DO WE SPEAK UP AND SAY WE WON'T TOLERATE THIS SHIT FROM BOUNCERS ON OUR NIGHTS OUT?

Has anyone else had similiar experiences? what can we do to stop these people adding such a horrible atmosphere to gigs?

I agree, the vast majority of bouncers who I have encountered fit their exact stereotype.

Did you complain to the Underworld manager though? I think that's the best idea. There's one bouncer at the Electric Ballroom who was an absolute CUNT to a friend of mine and wouldn't let her into a club night there, so we called the manager out who let her in and then gave the bouncer a good bollocking. The last couple of times I've been there since I haven't seen him so I guess a few more people complained too...

or at least has some sort of deal with a bouncer 'agency'? Enquiring with the venue to find out which it is and then complaining to whomever might be a start. Have the other occasions where you've had hassle been in the same venue?

I've managed to avoid having any hassle from bouncers in the last few years, wearing glasses really does have it's benefits

There's an art center here in Cardiff called Chapter, and it has a great bar, however, the security are utter pricks. They call time at the bar, and the bouncer gives you 3 minutes to drink up. You can't sell someone a pint and then tell them to finish it within 3 minutes! And it's not as though it's some crazy den of violence, it's just people enjoying a drink after watching the latest Jim Jarmusch offering or whatever. It's utterly utterly annoying.

Always go to the boss - whether it's the security manager or the venue owner

Just saying to a bouncer "Who is your supervisor?" reminds them that they are not the ones in charge and that someone is ultimately assessing/watching their actions

Having said that, I once witnessed the head bouncer of a London club (a 22stone male) hit the venue manager (a 9stone female) full in the face for giving him a public dressing down - so be calm and careful

Given the circumstances ie it being a DiS band and you being Mr. DiS I would have thought that the management of the Underworld would take your grievances very seriously especially if you remind them that you have a website with 50,000 readers

if not, you have a website with 50,000 readers so...

Don't let it go though - write them a frank letter and remind them that such treatment of their paying customers is not only unacceptable but that it is also bad for business

As for what to do about bouncers in general - I had an idea recently but I'm not sure it would work in London...

towards punters in most of the 500+ capacity venues in london. it's actually sickening.

i was once in the islington academy and the security (presumably on management orders) were going to ridiculous ends to stop anyone taking photos of the band playing, including shining torch lights into any cameras they saw attempting to take a picture in order to fuck it up. i made a very loud, very sarcastic comment to my friend about how shocking that was and received a threatening "want to say that again?" from one of the security staff.

lovely.

personally, i'd write to the management but i'd also write to LB Camden's licensing department and make a complaint about the venue's conduct towards it's customers and request it be kept on file for the next time their alcohol license comes up for renewal..

kept telling me i looked like shaggy from scobby doo. that was quite annoying.
I did see a benji from skindred get grabbed and thrown to the floor for trying to go backstage at his own gig tho.. and katie jane garside being grabbed by the arm when trying to go backstage at a katastrophy wife gig.. they both had passes.

and its a shame there is a need for them isn't there - I went outside the Electric Ballroom between bands to make a call and even though he saw me leave and I gestured to the fact that I was popping out he wouldn't let me back in again - I had to argue with him for ages and eventually the manager or someone told him not to be so stupid but by then I'd missed most the set of the band I'd gone to see - what scared me was that you could tell he wanted me to get angry with him so he coudl get angry with me - prick.

they got around the potential hooligan problem by having the way out of venues staffed with scores of very small Japanese women standing in rows bowing at you. This certainly prevented anyone from causing trouble because they would have felt too guilty.

It may be that they won't care but there's an equal chance they won't be aware of how their bouncers are behaving.

I may be an otomist I'd have thought most venues do want their bouncers to behave in a polite, responsible fashion 'cos things like this are bad for custom.

So I reckon you're first step (and you really should do it to try and stop it happening to other people in the future) is simply to write a version of what you said here in a letter or email, post it to the venue and wait and see what their comments are.